[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 35 (Sunday, March 20, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E516]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      HONORING SPALDING G. WATHEN

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GEORGE RADANOVICH

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Sunday, March 20, 2005

  Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor posthumously Mr. 
Spalding Wathen of Fresno, CA. Mr. Wathen was one of the most respected 
people throughout California's entire Central Valley for his success in 
the building industry and for his sincere humanity.
  Spalding Wathen was born in Fresno, CA on March 1, 1925. Mr. Wathen 
dutifully served his country as a U.S. Navy pilot in World War II. He 
graduated from Roosevelt High School and then University of California, 
Berkeley in 1949, with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. He 
was a member of the Chi Epsilon and Tau Beta Pi Engineering Scholastic 
Fraternities and graduated in the top of his class. For almost 60 
years, he built over 10,000 homes and apartments, and has developed 
more than 60 subdivisions throughout the Central Valley.
  Mr. Wathen he obtained his general contractor's license in 1950 and 
his real estate broker's license in 1953. He was Chief Executive 
Officer of Wathen Brothers, Headliner Homes and Mansionette Homes. In 
addition, Spalding Wathen was a four-time President of the Building 
Industry Association, was inducted in the West Coast Builders 
Association Hall of Fame in 1996, and was one of a select few builders 
who received the Oscar Spano Award for Lifetime Achievement.
  His numerous donations include the Fresno State University Tennis 
Center, land on which St. Agnes Medical Center was built, the ten-acre 
site for Holy Spirit Catholic Church, and site for St. Patrick's Church 
in Merced. He was a founding member of the Board of Directors for the 
Bank of Fresno and was a lifetime member of the Central California 
Bowling Hall of Fame.
  Mr. Wathen is survived by his wife, Della Ann Wathen, five daughters, 
six grandchildren, two brothers and two sisters.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize posthumously Mr. Spalding G. Wathen 
for his extraordinary impact on his community. I urge my colleagues to 
join me in celebrating the life of Spalding Wathen.




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